RUSTON - Despite losing five of its top six scorers from a year ago, Louisiana Tech has been picked second in the Western Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches and Media Poll released by the league office on Wednesday.

Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon and Co. return six letterwinners and only one starter from last year's squad that posted a 17-15 record and advanced to the championship game of the WAC Tournament before falling to Fresno State.

In the coaches poll, Tech garnered three of the 10 first place votes and a total of 75 points to finish behind preseason league favorite Utah State. The Aggies picked up seven first place votes and totaled 78 points. Denver (55), Seattle (48), Idaho (47), Texas State (41), San Jose State (36), New Mexico State (27), UTSA (26) and UT Arlington (17) round out the team rankings.

Tech sophomore forward Whitney Frazier was named to the preseason all-conference first team, joining Utah State's Devyn Christensen, Idaho's Alyssa Charleston, Texas State's Diamond Ford and Seattle's Kacie Sowell. Frazier is coming off a rookie campaign that saw her average 9.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest. Christensen was named the WAC Preseason Player of the Year.

The WAC media also tabbed Utah State as the preseason favorite as the Aggies received nine first place votes and a total of 165 points. LA Tech is second with four first place votes and 145 points followed by Denver (1, 135), Seattle (2, 111), Texas State (1, 105), Idaho (91), San Jose State (70), UTSA (59), New Mexico State (1, 56) and UT Arlington (53).

Frazier also earned first team honors as the media's all-conference first team was identical to the coaches with Christensen, Charlston, Ford and Sowell making up the team. Tech sophomore guard Kelia Shelton earned second team honors despite having not played a game since transferring from Clemson. Shelton was joined by Cunnigan, Karr, Smith and New Mexico State's Stefanie Gilbreath.

LA Tech will host Mississippi College in an exhibition game on Nov. 4 before opening the season at Tulane on Nov. 9. The Lady Techsters home opener is Nov. 12 against South Carolina.

Season tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the Tech Ticket Office at 318-257-3631, emailing techtickets@latech.edu or logging onto www.latechsports.com.

Fans can follow all of the action for the team through Twitter by following @latechwbb.